2014-15 Conference Champs

BU, Morningside to Meet Again in FCS

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The No. 4 ranked Baker University football team will host a second-consecutive postseason game when they face No. 5 ranked Morningside this Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Football Championship Series.

The Wildcats are 2-1 all-time against the Mustangs, Saturday also marks the first time these two schools have faced off since Morningside defeated Baker, 65-27, in the NAIA FCS First Round in 2008.

This is the first time the Wildcats have earned back-to-back playoff appearances since the 1993 squad, and first team with 11 wins in a season in school history.

Baker is also hosting its first quarterfinal game since 1993, and is 5-1 all-time in the quarterfinals, while Morningside is 2-5. Since 2000, the home teams in the FCS quarterfinals are 39-12 overall, with home teams going 4-0 last year.

The Mustangs come in with a record of 10-1 and made it all the way to the NAIA National Championship game in 2012, eventually losing to Marian (Ind.), 30-27, down in Rome, Ga.

Morningside defeated No. 10 Rocky Mountain, 40-21, at home in the first round of the NAIA FCS last Saturday, to advance to the quarterfinals, whike Baker took down No. 13 Sterling 10-7 inside Liston Stadium.

The Wildcats victory over the Warriors was highlighted by Clarence Clark's 28-yard game winning field goal as time expired. The freshman had missed his previous three attempts in the game, but came through against the Warriors as he helped Baker clinch a spot in the next round.

Clark also had 118 yards receiving and a touchdown on three receptions. Clark is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in field goals with 1.4 per game and ranks No. 1 in Division I in total field goals with 17.

Running back Scott Meyer led the Wildcats rushing attackwith 97 yards on 21 carries and running back Camren Torneden also had 75 yards on 20 carries, while quarterback Jake Morse accumulated 237 passing yards with a touchdown on 17 of 25 passing.

Morningside had an offensive clinic against Rocky Mountain in its 40-21 rout. The Mustangs totaled 685 yards of total offense, and 33 first half points. Running back Brandon Wegher had 277 yards and two scores on 33 carries, while quarterback Ryan Kasdorf threw for 338 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 20 of 32 passing. Wide receiver Kyle Schuck also had 162 yards receiving and two touchdowns on seven receptions.

Baker comes into Saturday ranked No. 8 in the NAIA in scoring defense per game allowing 17.6 points. Linebackers Darrick Smith and Emmerson Clarke have a combined total of 13 interceptions.

Smtih has seven total, while Clarke has six and each hasreturned an interception for a touchdown. Austin Hamm leads the team with six sacks, while Adam Novak is second on the team with five.

The Mustangs are ranked No. 1 in Division I in four different categories including total scoring offense and scoring offense per game. Morningside has totaled 555 points and averages 50.5 points per game.

Kasdorf and Schuck have been a reliable commodity for the Mustangs. Kasdorf has 435 rushing yards, but ranks No. 5 in Division I in passing yards per game with 311.3. He has also totaled 3,113 yards with 37 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, while Schuck is ranked No. 4 in Division I in total scoring touchdowns with 20. He also has 68 receptions for 1,332 yards.

Logan Gibbs and Bret Doorenbos lead the team in sacks. Gibbs has 3.5, while Doorenbos has 2.5. Darius Hicks leads the team in interceptions with four, he picked off a season high three passes at Concordia (Neb.) in a 48-31 win on Nov. 2.

The winner of Saturday's game will advance to the NAIA semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 7.

After a generous gift from several anonymous Baker donors, all Baker University students will receive free admission to the football game. Students must present their Student ID at the gate to receive their complimentary student ticket.

All other tickets for the game are as follows, $10 for adults, $5 for students with ID, Military with ID and senior citizens (62 and Over) and $3 children 5 & Under. All those with an NAIA Pass will be admitted for free.

The game will also be featured online with free live video and live stats. Fans, just visit www.bakerwildcats.com, click on Multimedia at the top of the website, then select Live Stats or Live Video and enjoy.

The game will be called by Baker Hall of Fame member Tom Hedrick, with color analyst Sean Webb.